Time-stamp.



1. c. wlLsoN.

TIME STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1907- Patented May 1l, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,- i *Aff I l\\ u l l l n r y 4 l V w/ Illllllllll c 6 IIIIIIIIIIIIII vl l 4 l. l/ 46 i THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTUN. D. CA

l. C. W-ILSON.

TIME STAMP.

. APHLCATION FILED 1UNE27, 1907. 1,139,247. Patented May11,1915.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

ll llll rllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. WILSON', OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATICTIME STAMP COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,` A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

TIME-STAMP,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 27, 1907. Serial No. 381,013.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN C. WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Time-Stamps, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to time stamps, printing timers and registers forautomatically registering or stamping the time or 1nterval upon asuitably presented medium, such as a card.

My invention aims generally to improve devices of this type, and to thatend comprises novel features of construction, arrangement andcombination of parts, which will be best understood and appreciated, byreference to the following description, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, of an automatic time registering stampembodying one form of my invention and selected for purposes ofillustration, the scope of the invention being more particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a time stampembodying one form of my invention, showing the same with its frontswung down, or in its open position to disclose the interior; Fig. 2, afront elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on theline 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. Ll, a plan of the removable card receiving frameto show the ribbon holder and the card positioning device; Fig. 5, anelevation of the right side of said frame; Fig. 6, a plan of the bottomthereof; Fig. 7, an elevation of its left side, Fig. 4;; Fig. 8, an endelevation, and Fig. 9, a partial side elevation (full size) of saidframe, the ribbon carrying plate being removed to show the cardpositioning latch member in normal position with its spring actuatingmechanism; Fig. 10, a side elevation, full size, with parts broken outand the ribbon holding plate removed, to show the card positioningdevice moved inward relative to the opposite adjustable side gage andthe end gage; Fig. 11, a longitudinal section, on the dotted line 11-11,Fig. 9; Fig. 12, a perspective of the card positioning mechanismdetached from its carrying frame; and Fig. 13, a detail, in plan, of theend portion of a card employed,

showing the dial previously printed therein and the impression made bythe stamping die.

Referring to the drawings and to the particular embodiment of myinvention selected for illustration therein, the time stamp comprises asuitable casing having a back 1, adapted to be secured in verticalposition upon a suitable support 2, and to the lower wall 3 of which,the front l of said casing 1s hinged as at 5, thus to provide a two partclosable casing within which the operative mechanism is housed, and thatmay be opened to aord access to the interior or closed up into itsnormal position of use.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the back wall of the casing is provided witha forwardly projecting plate 6, having an aperture 7 in its front end,which is adapted to be engaged by the hook shaped end 8 of a pivotedlatch lever 9 which maintains the casing closed, as best shown in Fig.3. This pivoted latch lever extends through an opening in the front ofthe casing, so that it may be depressed to elevate its hooked end forreleasing the latter from engagement with said apertured plate to permitthe casing to be opened. The upper part of the casing is provided with aforwardly projecting portion of suitable shape and form, hereincircular, within which is inclosed a suitable clock work, represented at10, Fig. 3, which may be and preferably is of the same generalconstruction and shown in my prior Patents Nos. 637 ,315 and 543,416, towhich reference may be had if desired. The front of the casing is itselfprovided with a hinged and glazed door or cover 11 to protect the clockface, the glass plate 14E thereof permitting the clock face to bereadily seen and the time ascertained, so that the time stamp alsoanswers the purposes of a clock. This cover 11 is provided with adepending apertured lug 12 to receive the forwardly projecting end 9aofthe latch lever 9, said projecting end having a longitudinal slot 13to permit the insertion of a pad lock to lock the cover in its closedposition. At its back, the front a of the casing is interiorly providedwith a suitable bed plate 15, Fig. 3, in which is rotatably mounted astamping die, in the present instance, a printing die 16, having aforwardly projecting spindle 17 which, at its front end, is providedwith spring fingers 17Zt to grasp and clamp Il@ upon a rearwardlyprojecting spindle of the clock works, in the present instance, the hourhand arbor. By this arrangement, the die is caused to rotatesimultaneously with the hour hand or once in twelve hours.

lVhile, obviously, the printing die may be of any suitable constructionor form, such, for example, as the dials, indicators, etc., shown in myprior patents, to which reference has been made, 1 prefer that hereinprovided, comprising a die formed to stamp a circle a, (F ig. 13),having a radially extending index Z9, the circle and index po-rtions ofthe die being respectively shown at 16 and 18, Fig. 3.

The bed plate may obviously be provided at its inner face with asuitable stationary printing die of the annular clock face dial type,within which the circular die 16 with its index 18 rotates, but, in thepresent instance, the graduations and hours are printed upon the cardemployed, Fig. 13, and the card is presented, by mechanism hereinafterdescribed, so that the printing die is centered relatively to theprinted dial upon the card.

As is common, in devices of this type, and as shown in the patentsreferred to,the stamping is effected by printing through a suitablepreferably adjustable inking ribbon 19, extending across the front ofthe die. The ends of this ribbon are secured to suitable rollers 20, seeFig. 7, mounted upon a plate 21, of what may be termed a card receivingframe 22, Fig. 1, which is provided with suitable means for receivingand placing the card to be stamped relative to the die. This frame is,herein, removably secured upon and between the side walls of the casingfront and directly behind the die. r his frame is preferably ofrectangular shape and is provided with forwardly projecting pins 22awhich extend from the face of the ribbon plate adjacent its lateraledges and are adapted to engage suitable apertures in the rear edges ofthe side walls of said front 4, so that the frame may readily be securedin position or removed.

For convenience in adjusting the ribbon the rollers are provided withprojecting ends 23, having milled heads, 24, by which they may be turnedto move the ribbon back and forth across the ribbon carrying plate andrelatively to the die. rllhis ribbon carrying plate, see Fig. 5 anddotted lines Fig. 7, is centrally provided with a preferably circularaperture 21a, opposite a larger square opening, 22h, in the back of saidframe, said apertures receiving the platen member, 44, which engages thecard held in said frame and forces it against the ribbon and cooperatingprinting face of the die, which, when said frame 22 is secured in placeupon the casing, are immediately behind the printing die and its index18, the

ribbon of course, extending across the aperture to cover the face of thedie.

For maintaining the ribbon with its printing surface substantially flushwith the apertured ribbon plate, and in operative relation with theprinting die, the latter is provided with transverselv extending crossrods 26, see n ig. 7, beneath which the ribbon runs and which hold itdown upon said plate.

To provide suitable means for receiving and supporting the card, saidframe is interior-ly provided with a suitable rectangular recess orpocket formed between the ribbon supporting plate, 21, and the aperturedback of the frame, the head of the frame having a projecting mouth 27for receiving and directing the card into the receiving pocket. 'Oneside wall of said card recess or pocket, the top Fig. 1G, is provided bya normally fixed but adjustable gage or stop 28 and the opposite side ofsaid pocket is closed by a movable gage or card positioning member 30,which with its operating mechanism constitute the card placing7 means towhich reference will be made. The bottom of the card receiving pocket isclosed by an adjustable end gage or stop 25), Fig. 10, which determinesthe vertical position of the inserted card relative to the die. The sidegage 28 and the bottom gage 2S), as shown in Fig. 10, are each providedwith transversely extending slots for the shanks of suitable retainingscrews tapped through the bacl of said frame 22 into the ribbon holdingplate 21, thereby permitting said gages to be secured in desiredpredetermined and adjusted position and to cooperate with the cardplacing mechanism. A

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, this mechanism comprises the automaticpositioning device, 30, which engages one side of the card and shiftsthe card laterally to cause its opposite edge to abut the side gage 28.This member is carried by and is slidably mounted upon a substantiallyrectangular block 31, a detached view of which is shown in Fig. 12, thelatter being slidablymounted within a longitudinally extending recess 32in the front face of the .said frame and for which the ribbon holdingplate, 21, serves as a retaining plate. At its inner edge, said block isprovided with suitable sockets 33, Figs. 9 and 12, to receive outwardlyprojecting coil springs 34. These so( iets communicate with apertures 36extend 1g through the block, which slidably receive pins 35 secured attheir inner ends to said member 30. These pins, 35,

the heads 37 of which exteriorly engage said frame, extend through saidapertures 3G and said sockets 33, and are surrounded by said springs 34,the latter being' interposed between said gage 30 and the bottoms ofsaid sockets, so that the positioning member, 30,

is yieldingly and normally projected toward the opposite gage, 2S, buthas a yielding movement toward its carrying block. For normallyretaining the block and thereby said positioning member, 30, in outer orcard receiving and releasing position, said block is provided withtransversely extending slots 38 to receive coil springs 39, the latterbeing interposed between the outer end walls of said slots and studs 40,Fig. 9, projecting into the opposite end of said slots from the bottomplate of said frame. These studs being stationary, the action of saidsprings is to thrust or push the block outwardly and to carry with itthe card positioning member 30. Said block is also provided with a camfaced latch 4l, extending at right angles from the rear face of saidblock and extending through and having an in and out or lateral movementin a suitable rectangular slot, 42, in the back plate of said frame.Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, the inner face of said plate, or that whichconstitutes the top edge thereof and which 'is immediately beneath thecard receiving mouth of the time stamp, is `preferablv provided with acurved face for directing the inserted or unfed end of the card into thecard receiving space below it, indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l0.

In operation, the card is inserted in said card receiving pocket andpushed down until arrested by the engagement of its inserted end withthe adjustable bottom gage, whereupon the cam faced latch, whichprojects toward the rear face of said frame, is actuated by suitablemeans provided upon the platen operating lever 43, Fig. l, presentlydescribed, to force the latch inward. This movement, of course, movesthe card positioning or gage member 30 also inward, pushing the cardsidewise or laterally, until its opposite edge strikes and is arrestedby the opposite side gage 28, thus placing the card always inpredetermined position after it has been fed into operative relationwith the die.

By this construction, it will be evident that my invention providessuitable automaticvmeans, which I denominate as card placing means fortaking the card in its infed or received position and then transferringor shifting it to a new position in desired and predetermined relationto the printing die. Such construction, furthermore, differentiates myinvention from stamping and printing devices provided with what may betermed feeding in means, that take a previously presented card anddirect or move it into printing position and wherein the accuracy of thefeeding movement is relied upon to properly position the card. Toprevent the buckling of the inserted card by the complete or continuedmovement of said latch 41 and its block 31,

the pin springs 34 are made light relative to the springs 39, so thatthey yield, and the positioning member 30, when vthe positioningmovement of the card has been arrested, remains relatively stationaryand thereby preventing bending or distortion of the card.

Referring now to Figs. l and 3, the means for actuating the cardpositioning member and for thereafter forcing the surface of the cardinto its centered position, into printing relation with said printingribbon and the operating face of the printing die in front of it,comprise a spring controlled yoke shaped lever 43, which is provided atits head with a suitable platen 44, faced with a yielding pad 45. Boththe platen and its pad are preferably of circular shape and are adaptedto be moved in and out of the apertures in said ribbon supporting plateand its supporting frame 22. The forward movement of the platen operatesto force the card engaged thereby and the printing ribbon into printingrelation with the face of the printing die, thus producing an impressionof the die on the card.

At its lower end, the lever 43 is pivotally mounted between the sidewalls of the casing, the sides of the yoke lever, in the presentinstance, being provided with depending ears'46, Fig. 3, apertured toreceive a pivot pin 47 extending between the sidewalls of the casing andjournaled at its ends therein. VThese ears are rigidly secured to saidpivot pin by means of clamping screws 48 and said pin is surrounded bycoil springs 49, the outer ends of which engage, as at 49a, Fig. 3, theinwardly extending arms 50 of said lever. The opposite inner hookedshaped ends 51 of said springs, in the present instance, are arranged toengage pins 52 upon a forwardly projecting arm 53, of a lever 54fulcrumed between ears 55 at the inner ends of the inwardly extendingyoke arms 50. By this construction, said springs operate to swing thelever 54 on its pivot so as to move its forwardly projecting arm 53rearward toward said yoke lever and yieldingly maintain it in suchposition. Between said ears 55, however, said lever 54 is provided witha cam face 56, which is adapted to engage a roller 57 upon the rear armof a spring controlled lever 58, said cam face and the yielding rollerarm cooperating to produce a percussive blow of the platen upon thecard, as will now be described. A depending arm 59 of said lever 54,extends through a suitable slot in the bottom of the hinged front of thecasing and at its outer end is suitably formed to present an operatinghandle 60 by which it may be depressed. Depression of this operatinghandle, swings the upper cam end thereof and the lever 43 forwardtogether, first to bring the active face 6l of said cam arm 56 intoengagement with CTF.

the roller and for the time being prevent further simultaneous movementof the levers. Further and continued depression of the operating handleGO, however, swings said lever -zt about its fulcrum G2 and relative tothe lever 43, the springs 49 yielding to permit this separating movementand being compressed thereby until the curvilinear face (33 of said campasses beneath the roller. At this instant, the spring controlled lever5S carrying said roller 57 is permitted to swing rearward and upward,releasing the lever 54C, the latter and said lever 43, immediatelyswinging forward; but the latter through a greater arc owing to theseparation produced by the action of the roller, before the releasethereof. rilhe action of the compressed springs, swings the lever 113for- 'ard to cause a sharp percussive blow to be struck by the paddedplaten against the card and the printing die in front of it, thismovement stamping the card with the imprint of the die in desiredrelation with the printed dial thereon, as shown in Fig. 13.

1V hile any suitable means may be provided for engaging and actuatingthe cam shaped latch of the card positioning device, so that the lattermay present the card in predetermined position and hold it there whilethe stamping is effected I prefer the construction herein shown, whereinthe back of the platen is provided with a transversely adjustable plateG4 having longitudinal slots and clamping screws GG by which it may besecured in desired position. At its right end, this adjustable plate isprovided with inwardly extending ears 67 between which is mountedfriction roller, GS, adapted, when the platen lever is swung forward, toengage the rearwardly projecting' cam face of said latch and by itsaction thereon, force the latter inward to position the card.

By this construction, it is obvious that the card may be inserted aplurality of times within the pocket, or card receiving recess providedfor its reception, and that each time it is inserted, it will be movedto the same predetermined position to receive the impress of theprinting die, the circle of said die having the same position relativeto the card, while the index arm thereof has different relativepositions corresponding to the times at which the time stamp isactuated.

The end of one of the cards or slips to be printed is shown in Fig. 13,upon which is previously printed the time dial referred to. The annularprinted dial occupies the same position on all the cards relative to thesides and end thereof and for accurate results it is evident that inplacing the card within the pocket receiving recess, it should be movedor placed in predetermined position relative to the printing die, sothat the successive imprints of the latter stamped thereon occupy aconcentric position relative to the previously printed dial on the card.

By the provision of the xed though relatively adjustable side and endo'ages 2S and 29 with the cooperative action of the positioning member30 and the adjustment of the roller carrying member G-i of the platenlever, suitable means are provided by which cards of different sizes maybe used, the said gages, of course, being previously adjusted to effectthe proper positioning or centering of the size of card used relative tothe die, so that the imprint of the time stamp may always be concentricrelative to the center of the clock dial on the card. By thisconstruction, furthermore, it will also be apparent that the card isalways moved to the predetermined position referred to and that it isalso firmly held in position during the subsequent printing operation,so that any displacement thereof is positively prevented.

The invention described thus provides not only simple and effectivemeans for effecting the stamping of the cards, but more particularly,devices which are automatically operated to position the card relativeto the stamping device and also to hold it there while the stamping istaking place, this being the first instance in the art, so far as 1 amaware, in which automatic positioning devices have been provided,Furthermore, the actuation of the card positioning devices is effectedby the same movement hat moves the platen or effects the stamping, sothat no other labor is required of the operator than to insert the cardand actuate said lever.

My invention obviously is not limited to the particular embodimentthereof, herein selected for purposes of illustration only, nor to thespecific details of construction and arrangement, the same being capableof modification within wide limits without departing from the spirit andscope thereof.

1 claim* 1. The combination of a die with aplaten, means for operatingthe same to effect a printing operation, a card receiving pocket havinga Xed stop, a support, a card positioning member mounted to slide onsaid support relatively to said pocket, spring means tending to movesaid member away from said pocket, a card engaging element carried bysaid card positioned member, spring means tending to move said elementaway from said member, a cam member on said card positioning member andan operating member on said platen for engaging said cam member in thecourse of the printing operation automatically to shift said positioningmember and cause said element yieldably to move the card to said fixedstop.

2. rlhe combination of a die with a platen, a card receiving pockethaving a iiXed stop,

a reciprocable card positioning member, a support for said member,spring means tending to slide said member away from said stop, a camfaced lug on said member and an arm on said platen 'for engaging saidcam face and automatically shifting said member toward said stop in thecourse of the movement of said platen toward said die in making animprint.

8. The combination of a die with a platen, a card receiving pocketinterposed between them and having a iiXed stop, a reciprocable cardpositioning member, a card engaging element, spring means tending tomove said element away from said member, spring means for yieldinglymaintaining said member and element as a unit normally out of saidpocket to present a free and unobstructed card receiving interior forthe pocket, and means for .automatically shifting said unit toward saidiixed stop to adjust an edge of the card to said stop in the course ofthe relative movement of said die and platen in making an imprint.

4L. The combination of a die, a platen, a time train for actuating saiddie, a card receiving pocket interposed between said die and platen andhaving a iXed stop, a card positioning member having provision forengaging an edge of the card, a support for said member, spring meanstending to slide said member along said support away from said stop andleave a free and unobstructed interior for the pocket and means forautomatically shifting said member toward said stop in the course ofrelative movement of the die and platen to adjust an edge of the card tosaid fixed stop.

5. The combination of a casing, with a die, a platen, a time train foractuating said die, a card receiving pocket interposed between said dieand platen and having a xed stop, a card positioning member havingprovision for engaging an edge of the card, means tending to slide saidmember away from said stop, and means for automatically shifting saidmember toward said stop in the course of relative movement of the dieand platen to adjust the opposite edge of the card thereto.

6. The combination of a die with a platen, a card receiving pocketinterposed between them and having a iXed stop, a card positioned memberhaving provision for engaging an edge of the card, means tending toslide said member away from said stop, a casing receiving the aboveparts, and operating means for relatively moving said die and platenincluding a handle accessible exteriorly of said casing, and means forshifting said member toward said stop in the course of the relativemovement of said die and platen to adjust the opposite edge of the cardthereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN C. WILSON.

Witnesses:

JosIAi-I MlNo'r FOWLER, SIDNEY F. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, '.D. G'.

